Google has begun testing ads for branded prescription drugs inside AI Mode and AI Overviews, opening its AI search platform to one of the most tightly regulated categories in advertising, the company confirmed to ADWEEK.

The testing started this month, according to a Google spokesperson, and runs only in the U.S. It covers pharmaceutical products, including prescription drugs.

"We're testing standard text and Shopping ads in AI Mode and AI Overviews, which we recently expanded to include certain pharmaceutical products," the Google spokesperson said in a statement.

What formats will pharma advertisers run?

Pharmaceutical advertisers can use the same formats already available across Google's commercial surfaces:

• Standard text ads
• Shopping ads

Both formats will appear in AI Mode and AI Overviews within sections labeled "Sponsored," keeping the paid placements visually distinct from AI-generated answers.

Why does the category matter?

Prescription drug advertising sits among the most tightly regulated categories in the industry. Bringing it into AI search placements means Google is extending its ad business beyond traditional results pages into generative surfaces — while carrying a category that carries heavy compliance obligations.

The company confirmed the move directly rather than leaving it to detection by advertisers, and framed it as a test rather than a full launch.

What happens next?

For now, the pilot is limited in two ways: geography (U.S. only) and scope (a test, per the spokesperson). Pharmaceutical advertisers watching AI search as a channel now have a concrete signal that Google intends to monetize its AI experiences with even its most restricted advertiser category — and the outcome of this month's testing will shape how quickly that inventory scales.